Many people remodeling homes to increase their value
People looking at ways to increase the value of their home need to follow a number of dos and don无毛视频檛s.
For example, bathrooms and kitchens do. Swimming pools and high-end fixtures don无毛视频檛.
It can be a challenge to sell a home today in an aggressive marketplace, according to real estate experts. With the warmer months being the most active time of year to buy and sell real estate, it无毛视频檚 important to ensure your home is seen in the best light possible, according to Wendy Froehlich of Homes.com, one of the nation无毛视频檚 top online real estate listing and lifestyle resources.
According to Homes.com, the top five projects that improve home equity are:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Outdoor spaces
- Basements
- Mudrooms.
Projects in Fayette County homes follow that pattern.
无毛视频淲e are not seeing a lot of new home building, not like we did five or six years ago,无毛视频� said Mike Shimko, president of the Builders Association of Fayette County.
无毛视频淏ut there is a lot more remodeling going on now. Remodeling has picked up more today than in the past,无毛视频� he added.
无毛视频淧eople are doing more remodeling of kitchens, bathrooms and putting on additions to their homes rather than moving out to build something new,无毛视频� Shimko said.
Apart from kitchen and bathroom remodeling and upgrading, Shimko said there are other, less costly things homeowners can do. 无毛视频淎 fresh coat of paint, new carpeting, windows, doors, floor coverings can all add value. Appealing landscaping and keeping the driveway in good condition add value. Even a finished basement or mudroom can add value to the house,无毛视频� Shimko added.
In this area, he said, 无毛视频淲e mostly get requests for kitchen and bathroom projects and small additions.无毛视频�
Whether remodeling a kitchen, adding a family room, installing replacement windows or simply changing a light fixture millions of Americans each year undertake some type of home improvement project.
There are other projects that can add value but homeowners must be careful what they spend money on. Just because a homeowner spends $20,000 on expensive d茅cor or fixtures doesn无毛视频檛 mean the house is worth $20,000 more. Many homeowners spend on amenities such as phones in every bathroom or a decorative stone wall that are only peripheral to the value of the house, according to SmartMoney.com.
无毛视频淓xactly how much you无毛视频檒l recoup in costs depends on several factors, including the direction of the broader housing market, the value of the homes in your neighborhood, when you plan to sell the home and the nature of the project itself,无毛视频� according to SmartMoney.com.
Offered as an example, the web site referred to the addition of a midrange deck to a home in San Francisco that recouped 100 percent of its costs.
无毛视频淏ut you shouldn无毛视频檛 count on those types of returns. In Columbus, Ohio, the same project is likely to recoup less than two-thirds of its costs,无毛视频� according to SmartMoney.com.
There is a caveat with these value-added projects: The longer a person holds onto his or her home after remodeling project is completed, the less likely he or she will recoup its value. Why? Design tastes can shift significantly over time. Also, there无毛视频檚 little reward for having the fanciest house on the block. A house that无毛视频檚 priced higher than its neighboring homes could be perceived as overpriced even if it does have more value.
Froehlich of Homes.com suggested the following improvements to add value.
无毛视频淎dding a dual vanity to a master or secondary bath improves functionality, allowing multiple people to use the space. Change out fixtures like faucets and shower doors to increase aesthetic appeal. If you无毛视频檙e on a budget, replace light fixtures or switch plates to help refresh the space.
无毛视频淲hen working with a small space, highlight storage options with shelving and update or remove wall decor, paint or wallpaper,无毛视频� she said.
Froehlich said that kitchen renovations can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 and more. 无毛视频淚f that无毛视频檚 not in your budget, upgrading cabinetry and paint does wonders to liven up even the most outdated spaces. Add crown or decorative molding to 无毛视频榮hape out无毛视频� the kitchen cabinets and modernize the space. Repaint cabinets, or add new hardware to add visual interest and brighten dark spaces.无毛视频�
Not to be overlooked is the exterior of the home. According to Remodeling Magazine, improving outdoor spaces can increase a home无毛视频檚 resale value dollar-for-dollar.
Jim Pletcher writes a weekly real-estate story for the 无毛视频-Standard from a variety of angles. If you have an interesting story about buying or selling a home in Fayette County and would like a story written about it,, please contact 无毛视频-Standard Executive Editor Mark O无毛视频橩eefe at 724-439-7569.